Fire and water indicator for steam-boilers



(No Model.)

S. SMITH.

FIRE AND WATER INDICATOR FOR STEAM BOILERS. N0. 432,7'73. Patented July22, 1890.

INENTEJF] mmu* I III-l 5 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY SMITH, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed June 29, 1839.

Patent No. 432,773, dated July 22, 1890.

Serial No. 316,059. (No model.)

T0 00% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY SMITH, of Cambridge, in the county ofMiddleseX and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Fire and W'ater Line Indicators forSteam-Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide improved means forindicating the proper height of the water-line of a steam-boiler, and,if desired, the height of the fire-line. It is found in practice thatthe height of the water-line of a steam-boiler for effective work witheconomy of fuel can only be determined by a test in each case, theproper height varying. in diff rent boilers. I have found that of twotubular boilers of the same diameter andlength and connected with thesame'chimney one required two and a half inches of water above thetubes, while the other required eightinches, and neither boiler workedsatisfactorily with the waterline at any other height.

My invention consists, first, in a water-line indicator comprising aholder adapted to be attached in a vertical position to a boilerhead,and an arm or indicating device which is vertically adjustable on saidholder and is provided with means for positively securing it at anypoint to which it may be adjusted, so that when the holder is attachedto .the boiler the said arm may be adjusted to the point which is foundby tests to be the proper water-line for the boiler and then secured atsaid point.

The invention also consists in another indicator applied to said holderat a lower point to indicate the fire-line. Said arms are preferabl yprovided with distinguishing marks or characteristics, such as the wordswater-line and fire-line, or they may be differently colored ordistinguished each from the other in any suitable way, as by paintingthe one blue and the other red.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a front end elevation of a boiler-casing providedwith my improved indicator. Fig. 2 represents a section on line a: at,Fig. 1. Fig.

3 represents a section on line y y, Fig. 2.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all of thefigures.

In the drawings, a represents the front plate of the casing of a tubularboiler, to which is attached by screws 12 Z) the holder 0, whichsupports the Water-line indicator cl and the fire-line indicator (2.Said holder is preferably composed of a plate, which is bent at its endsto form legs 2 2, having ears 3 3, which rest on the casing a and aresecured thereto by the screws 1) b. The main portion of the plate isoffset from the casing by the legs 2 2 and is provided with alongitudinal slot 4. The indicators (Z c are here shown as arrowshapedarms having projections 5 5 formed to bear on the edges of the holder 0,and se cured to the holder by screws 0; inserted in the backs of thesaid projections, the heads of the screws bearing against the rear sideof the holder at opposite sides of the slot 4. The arms d e are thusheld at right angles with the holder 0, and are enabled to be adjustedto any points on the holder by loosening the screws 01 and positivelyheld at any points to which they may be adjusted by tightening saidscrews.

The importance of this adjustable waterline indicator, adapted to befirmly secured at any desired height on or in suitable relation to aboiler, cannot be overestimated, not only for safety, but also foreconomy and power. The extent to which the slotted body of the plate isset off from the casing to is such as to make the indicators (Z c standout from the casing as far as the gage-tube 1) stands out, so that saidindicators point directly at the gage-tube.

I claim The improved indicating device composed of thelongitudinally-slotted plate constrneted for attachment to aboiler-casing or other fixed support in proximity to the boiler-front,and the transverse arms of different indicating character, adapted to besecured on the plate, one at the fire-line and one at the water-line ofthe boiler, and provided with setscrews passing through the slot in theplate, substantially as described.

I11 testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 24th day of June, A. D.1889.

SIDNEY SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

O. F. BROWN, A. D. HARRISON.

